In Order to Build Power Line

A 40,000 volt power line could soon stretch 37 miles across parts of North Somerset to connect a new reactor at Hinkley Point nuclear power station to the National Grid.
French energy giant EDF is bidding to open a new reactor at Hinkley and the National Grid announced on Tuesday it would need a new network of overhead cables to connect Hinkley C to an electricity substation called Seabank in Avonmouth.
It will run the lines through one of two routes, which include Yatton, Nailsea, Congresbury and Hewish.
The proposals are at an early stage and the final route will depend on the results of consultation with statutory authorities, such as the Environment Agency and Natural England and public consultation, which begins next month.
The overhead line would be built in 2016 at a cost of around £2 million per mile.
National Grid major project manager David Mercer said: “Electricity is an essential part of our lives and this line will play a key role in helping to meet the demand for power.
“With a number of major power stations due to close down over the next decade and electricity demand rising, the country needs 20 gigawatts of new generation by 2020. However, these new power stations will need new transmission infrastructure to connect them securely.”
For more information visit www.nationalgrid.com/hinkley point.